Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Maharagama Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Maharagama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Ratnapura vs $473 in Maharagama, rent included.

A couple spends around $858 per month in Ratnapura vs $789 in Maharagama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,183 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,105 in Maharagama, rent included.

Ratnapura costs about 13% more than Maharagama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ratnapura and Maharagama are more affordable than the global median – Ratnapura 60% lower, Maharagama 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 LKR 735

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.13 LKR 3,398

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 LKR 2,287

Cappuccino

$2.37 LKR 797

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 LKR 291

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 164

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 LKR 713

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 988

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 LKR 662

$1.92 LKR 644

2.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 LKR 271

$0.49 LKR 164

65.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 242

$0.73 LKR 246

-1.37%

Eggs

$1.24 LKR 417

$2.07 LKR 694

-40.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.47 LKR 5,527

$16.11 LKR 5,405

2.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.97 LKR 2,338

$5.95 LKR 1,995

17.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.18 LKR 5,766

$10.91 LKR 3,661

57.47%

Apples (1kg)

$4.66 LKR 1,563

$11.62 LKR 3,898

-59.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 LKR 260

$1.25 LKR 419

-38.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,603

$10.10 LKR 3,389

-52.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 355

$1.83 LKR 613

-42.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 377

$1.19 LKR 400

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 LKR 502

$1.21 LKR 407

23.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 LKR 174

$1.61 LKR 541

-67.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 175

$0.62 LKR 208

-16.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.29 LKR 4,794

$9.84 LKR 3,303

45.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.44 LKR 4,175

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 LKR 773

$2.06 LKR 691

11.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 LKR 1,077

$3.25 LKR 1,090

-1.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 LKR 138

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.44 LKR 1,154

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 139

$0.34 LKR 115

20.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 LKR 177

$0.31 LKR 105

70.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.35 LKR 116

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 LKR 361

$1.43 LKR 478

-24.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.8K LKR 7.3M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.3K LKR 7.2M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$53.5 LKR 18.0K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.26 LKR 757

$3.28 LKR 1,101

-31.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.88 LKR 2,645

$12.46 LKR 4,182

-36.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.10 LKR 3,389

$13.51 LKR 4,534

-25.24%

Cinema Ticket

$2.71 LKR 910

$5.09 LKR 1,706

-46.76%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$68.3 LKR 22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$500 LKR 167.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.60 LKR 3,893

$24.80 LKR 8,321

-53.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$8.24 LKR 2,766

$13.30 LKR 4,464

-38.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 LKR 31.6K

$56.2 LKR 18.9K

67.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.63 LKR 9,606

$58.1 LKR 19.5K

-50.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$82.1 LKR 27.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.3 LKR 19.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 LKR 55.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.4 LKR 31.0K

$115 LKR 38.6K

-19.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 LKR 57.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ratnapura: July 26, 2026

Last update for Maharagama: July 27, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ratnapura vs Maharagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ratnapura is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $801 per month in Ratnapura and $709 in Maharagama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $534 in Ratnapura and $473 in Maharagama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Ratnapura – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $534 in Ratnapura and $473 in Maharagama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Maharagama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Maharagama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ratnapura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.